Box Card

This must be a first - me doing the latest crafty trend item!  Normally these projects come and go and pass me by, but not this time!

Welcome everyone to the latest challenge over at Diva's by Design, which is

Anything Goes

and we are sponsored by Bunny Zoe Crafts this week so there is a fab prize up for grabs.

But first, back to my project - a box card made after my blogging friend Ann insisted I have a go as they were so easy! (It was the last bit that swayed it for me!)

And here is my little work of art!

So Ann, the instructions you sent me were perfect, the box was easy to put together and there were only 2 things I didn't like.

No 1 - I don't have stamps and dies that work together, so all my flowers were hand cut which took a while & worse than that, it meant the hoover had to come out as I made a mess with paper clippings!

No 2 - was fair delighted with my floral arrangement till I tried flattening it and puting it in an envelope... my creation is a bit wide so the secateurs will have to come out!

So for those of you who haven't yet had a go at one of these, I urge you to do so - here are Ann's basic instructions which are simple to follow,

Score an A4 card in landscape at 7, 14, 21 & 28 cm.
Turn to portrait and score at 7 & 15 cm.
Cut off at 15cm and use this bit to make 2 inside supports approx 2cm deep for inside the box.  These should be 7cm wide + a 1cm scored tab at either end so they can be glued in place.
Next, cut the 4 shorter scores (7cm) so the crease line to create the box flaps and glue together.

I know this sounds a bit complex, but honest it's not.  Once you start working with the card and visulise the finished product the folds and cuts make sense.

Challenges;
Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
Stampin With The Dragon - Flowers
A Little Bit Crafty - Flower Power
4 Krafty Girlz - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz - May Flowers
Crafty Little Fairies - In the garden
Creative Knockouts - Lots of Layers
Top Tip Tuesday - Here comes Summer

Finally, I just want to thank my fellow Diva's for having me on the design team this last year.  I've loved working with you all and am sure our paths will cross in the future.

Training Update
Well folks, I hang my head in shame, the schedule has gone to pot, there has been no exercise for days as I have a horrid cold and cough.  I'm breathless just going about the house so to try and run would be pointless. Hopefully training will resume before the week is out!

In The Pink

Morning everyone, and what a lovely morning it is, the sun is out and I'm just back from a run - have to start the training again as I've signed up for the Tesco Race for Life again this year & I'm not one of those people who can just run 5k without a bit of practice!  Anyway, the challenge this week at Diva's is

In The Pink

So I chose to make a baby card using this gorgeous little Wee Stamp image and my Pebbles - Special Delivery papers.

Sponsoring us this time are Live & Love Crafts.

Challenges;
Crafty Bloggers Network - Pink & Ribbon
Digi Makeover Challenge - Anything goes & Digi
My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
Come & Get It - Anything & Digi
2 Sisters - Baby
Graph it Fun - Pink

Inspired by a Film

Well Easter has come and gone, as has the chololate and the holidays! I'm home alone apart from the cats and am here to tell you about the next challenge over at Diva's by Design.

This time we want cards

Inspired by a Film 

and I chose the film...Breakfast at Tiffany's starring Audrey Hepburn.

The image is a Stamping Bella one and the papers are Bo Bunny - Avenue's Collection.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 206
Sweet Stampin - Lots of Layers
My Mum's Craft Shop - April Anything Goes
Ribbon Girls - Yellow/Lemon

Sponsoring the challenge this week are the fabulous Crafty Ribbons who are offering our winner a great prize.

& more ribbon news now - this lovely lady has just scooped top prize at the Ribbon Girls Challenge!  They don't have a winners badge but as my prize is a voucher, I guess it's safe to say...

Buttons & Bows

Today it's back to team B at Diva's and a new challenge theme of

Buttons & Bows

A great theme and one that lends itself so well to ladies/girly cards.  Me being me though I decided to do something different!

So here is my male card!

The card was inspired by Lisa of You Made Me Ink - great blog name and a super card idea wouldn't you say.  Lisa's card can be found here and she said it was ok for me to pinch her idea - thanks Lisa!

Sponsoring the challenge this time around is Iva Nova Chest who have a lovely prize lined up for our winner.

Challenges:
Die Cut Diva's - Emboss it & use a die - bow die & stripe emboss
Flat Friends - Cards 4 Men
Allsorts - All About The Boy
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Girlz - Challenge 14 - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Buttons

Magnolia-licious

Yeah, Spring has finally arrived, we have had consecutive days of sunshine, the washing machine has been maxed out and the grass has had it's first cut of the year.  I love Spring!

So, it's Wednesday again and back to team B at Diva's for the latest challenge, which is...

Magnolia-licious

So that's basically any stamp by the Magnolia company as your main image, including, Tilda, Edwin, or any of the animal characters they have. Simply to use a Magnolia die or design paper is not enough!

Now it's positively ages since I've done a Tilda card and all my Magnolia stamps are years old, but thanks to Mrs Laurie Magnolia, I now have more recent Tilda's - thanks Mrs M!

Sorry for the shadows - it's the sun!

So, my card, it uses a gorgeous Spring Tilda image, I've then used Tim Coffey, K&Co papers and Andrea Jayne, Hot Diggity Dog papers, Kraft, WOC flowers and some die cut foiliage (thanks Debs).  Colouring is by Promarker and the card completed with a PB sentiment and lagre pearls.

Challenges:
Sketch n Stash - 134 - A new image and old (very) papers!
The Kraft Journal - Green - Thanks also for my super prize from last months challenge - it arrived yesterday and I love my new krafty goodies
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
Great Impressions - Spring
Digi Choosday Challenge - All about Girls
Magnolia Down under - Birthday
Make My Monday - Spring

Sponsoring us this time are the fabulous Magnolia-licious this is a new site to me, but they have some fab offers on, great tutorials and obviously everything Tilda - well worth a visit.

Make it Sparkle

Morning all and welcome to the latest challenge over at Diva's by Design.  today we'd like to see you,

Make it Sparkle

So any sparkly project will do, and sponsoring us this time are Craft Bag - a new company to me but one that looks well worth a visit!

For my project, I went with a girly card using a gorgeous LOTV image and some rather old Doodlebug Papers.  The sketch I followed was one I used a couple of weeks back off a Christmas Sketch challenge - told you I'd use it again!

Anyway, that's my take on things.  For more inspiration check out what the rest of the DT did, Jx

Challenges;
PB@Allsorts - A bit more sparkle
Artistic Inspirations - For the kids
Craft It Up - Glitter
Digi Sketch Challenge - Glitter
I Love Promarkers - Dies not punches - balloon die

With Love

Morning all and welcome to another challenge over at Diva's by Design.

Today our challenge is simply...

With Love

A great theme wouldn't you say and one that I think will generate loads of lovely cards!

For my card I went with an ever so cute LOTV image, coloured with Promarkers then set on papers by MME.

My little floral corner is all made from dies punches and pearls!

Today's sponsor is the lovely Mei Flower and they are offering our lucky winner a great prize.

Challenges;
Sketch n Stash - Sketch 132
Artistic Inspirations - Valentines Day
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Hearts & Love
Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute Valentine
OLLC - Use a Heart
Stamp & Create - Love is in the Air
The Ribbon Girls - Use a Lili & ribbon
Crafty Little Fairies - Love
Lili of The Valley - Feb Monthly Challenge - Name that tune? - Love is in the Air by John Paul Young (1978)
Papertake - With a heart
Passion for Promarkers - Have a heart

Vintage With Lace

On Sunday it rained and snowed on and off all day, so I went upstairs to make my latest card for Diva's By Design.  Today we follow the theme of;

Vintage with Lace

Not a particular favourite of mine, but as it was a DT card I had to get on with it!  Firstly I had the problem of an image.  Initially I was going to use an old photo, but in the end I went with a digi from Free Vintage Digital Stamps - think the name there says it all, and if any of you haven't checked them out I urge you to do so as they have some super images.

So, onto my card...

The colours haven't photographed too well, but I think you get the general idea! Papers are Bo Bunny Avenue Collection then the card is finished with Hobbyhouse pearls and gems, some lace and punched leaves.

Sponsoring us this time are the fabulous Live & Love Crafts, with our lucky winner getting?

Challenges;

Sketch Saturday - Struggled a bit with the embellishments this week!

Allsorts - Vintage

Fussy & Fancy - Vintage

Fantastic Tuesday - Make it Cute or Sweet - or both!

Use Ribbon

Today it's back to Team B at Diva's and we have a new challenge for you sponsored by Crafty Ribbons.

The theme this time is

Use Ribbon

So without further-a-do, here's my card;

It uses a lovely Saturated Canary image available to buy here.  Paper is LOTV Nitwits and the flower done with a Marianne Die and finished with a super Hobby House button.

Challenges;
Hobby House - Use Ribbon and a Hobby House item
Sketch n Stash - Sketch 130
Allsorts - Use ribbon - no bow
Hobbycutz - Something new - first time I've used this stamp - new to me
Sweet Stamps - Winter Blues
Papertake - New Year, New Stash - First outing of this lovely Saturated Canary image

Anything Goes @ Diva's

Morning everyone, before I tell you about the new challenge at Diva's by Design, I want to share with you a picture of  Merlot - now outside and climing trees.  He loves climbing trees - the higher the better, only problem is he's rubbish at getting down and invariably falls.  We had the camera out at the weekend hoping to get a nice shot of him sitting in my newly pruned tree, but just as the shutter clicked - he fell!

That aside, I now want to tell you about the latest challenge over at Diva's by Design, a nice easy one this time around, and it runs till 7th Jan, so plenty time to craft.  What we want is

Anything Goes

And sponsoring us this time are the super Flat Friends  by Emma Canning who are giving the winner digi's of choice.

For my card, I went with not one, but 2 Flat Friend digi's to create a living room scene all Christmassy and warm with a cat sat on the window ledge - this is where Femo my 5yr old cat likes to be. ( Santa's Been & Winter) Not outside falling out of trees!

 

Now the silicon glue and the glossy accents were both out in force here, the glue to raise tree layers & the cat and the accents for the double glazing!

Papers are Fancy Pants - Winterland and colouring by Promarker - and that's about it!

Challenges;
Little Miss Muffet - You've been framed - does the window frame count - sorry if it doesn't?
Papertake - Christmas Creatures - The cat
Krafty Hands - Anything Goes
Holly Jolly Christmas - Anything Goes
Kaboodle Doodles - Non Traditional Christmas Colours
Card Crafters Circle - Celebrations
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas
Deep Ocean - Santa is coming

Something Snowy

Mid November and I appear to have got back on track with my Christmas cards - how about you lot, still a few to make?

If so, why not join us over at Diva's By Design in this weeks challenge which is

Something Snowy

Obviously you don't have to make a Christmas card as long as you follow the theme, but I chose to go Christmas just for a change!

Sopnsoring us this time are the fabulous Bunny Zoe's Craft who have a fantastic range of products and are giving our lucky winner

Challenges;
Winter Wonderland - For A Child
CHCC - Outdoors - well snowmen shouldn't be in!
Papertake - Snow & Ice
Sketch n Stash No 21 - using all old stuff this time, nothing new

Finally - HELP NEEDED
I was with Leelou blogs, but when they decided to remove their backgrounds I decided to make my own. Got hubby to do all the hard work, but we can't quite get it right!  2 problems exist

1. I can't shift Leelou off and get rid of their stuff and button on top left. (And this may be why prob 2 exists.)

2. The back ground sheet only falls over the first 2 inches on the blog where the banner is, then stops and continues in the Leelou background.

So kiddies, how do I sort this? I'd really appreciate some help with this.  My lovely Laurie has been a great help and I'm sure would sort it if she was sat at my computer doing it, but via email I just don't get what has to be done! Jx

Orange

Today see's a new challenge over at Diva's By Design and this time the theme is

Orange

Great for those Autumnal cards - not so good for Christmas, but we can't be good all the time!

Sponsoring us this time is the fabulous Kenny K who gave us some lovely images to play with and will give our lucky winner some free digi's of choice.

My card uses Jasmine available here.

Challenges;
Heck of a Challenge - Autumn colours
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Autumn leaves & ribbon - all on orange ribbon!
Card Crafters Cafe - Happy Birthday
Crafting For All Seasons - Autumn Colours

Autumn Colours

The days are still flying by at a rate of knots here.  It's mid October and in a blink we'll all be saying it's Christmas.  For now, let's celebrate the season we're in.  After a cold and misty start yesterday, the day improved and we had a lovely sunny afternoon.  Perfect for a garden tidy.

Before I get onto that though I must tell you about the latest challenge over at Diva's by Design, it's,

Autumn Colours

And they are in all their glory at the moment!

So, my card uses a fantastic digi by From The Heart, and some LOTV paper & kraft.

Colouring is by Promarkers and then the card is finished off with ribbon, buttons and a Pippa butterfly.

Sponsoring this weeks Diva's challenge is the wonderful Iva Nova Chest, who are offering the lucky winner a "Charming" prize!

Challenges;
Stampin For The Weekend - Anything goes
Creative Craft Challenges - Anything Goes
Papertake - Happy Halloween Hues - or Autumn - mines more Autumn!
Shopping Our Stash - Oldest ribbon - this one has to be in this category, it was bought a couple of years ago in Germany.
Tuesday Throwdown - Pumpkin Patch
Craft Your Passion - Embossing
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Fall Colours
Pink Elephant - Pumpkin Photo Inspiration
Without Words - Pumpkins
Glitter n Sparkle - Add some Orange
Chocolate Coffee & Cards - Autumn

CAS

Boy's oh boys am I ahead of myself!  It's only Aug and here's me posting an October DT card.  No biggy now, but I bet come Oct I'll be well chuffed that this is done and dusted and I can concentrate on Christmas cards!

So, the new challenge at Diva's by Design is...

CAS

A favourite challenge theme of mine, which is probably why creativity has jumped ahead, when really I should be working on the current DT card!!!

So here's my effort,

... and there's no denying that it's not CAS! A computer generated sentiment, my new wave die from Die-namics a piece of ribbon & my Promarkers.  And obviously a fabulous image, by 2 Cute Ink, called Dolphin Cutie, available free to all here.

The sponsor this time is 2 Cute Ink, a lovely stamp company, who generously gave us lovely images to play with and who will give our winner lovely digi's as a prize.

Challenges;
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Something blue
Stamp & Create - Birthdays
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Monochromatic
Creative Craft Challenges - Anything Goes

Anything Goes @ Diva's

Hopefully by the next challenge I'll be back to normal and not scheduling, but for now here's a quickie to tell you all about the latest challenge over at Diva's By Design.

It's going to be a biggy... as it's ...

Anything Goes

& the sponsor is Live & Love Crafts who are giving the lucky winner the prize listed on the main blog page.

For my card I visited a new stamp company called Wee Stamps - could have bought them all, but as it was a baby card I needed to make I stuck with this image - Wee One for now.

Lots of dies and embossing in action here and more Craft Companion papers.

Challenges;
Allsorts - Baby
Sweet Stampin - Fancy folds
Choc Coffee & Cards - Anything goes
Crafty Little Fairies - Baby
Glitter n Sparkle - Add some pink

Water

Another scheduled post today as I'm probably still in Aberdeen when this goes live helping Alan move into his new flat.  However we crafters know that very little gets in the way of a new challenge, so rather than skip this week, I've relied once again on MrBlogger!

So it's back to Team B at Diva's again this week and we have the theme of

Water

Interpret this as you wish and hopefully we'll get some interesting creations.  The prize this time around is... A Surprise! So you'll just have to win it to see!!!

This consequently meant that us DT ladies could use any image we wanted, so after much searching I came up with this lovely image from A Day For Daisies, it's a beauty isn't it, and better than that, she is available FREE HERE!  (She was just so lovely to colour & glitter - think I'll be getting more of these stamps.)

Challenges;
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes
Lacy Sunshine - Dies & punches - Wreath die

8th Sept
This lovely lady was one of the winners at Glitter and Sparkle this week, and the prize, 3 digi's from Fitztown. Thanks. Jx

Twine Time

Morning all, Diva time again, and although this card isn't very Divaish, I am quite pleased with it & I think the dangly football is kinda cute!

So, first things first, the challenge this week at Diva's by Design is

Twine

And the fabulous sponsor back with us this time is my all time favourite Bugaboo, who are offering our lucky winner 7 free digi's of their choice.

For my card, I chose the digi Bugaboo Brat Sports - Soccer Boy available here.

It's a simple card, no inner diva appearing this week, but it's for a boy so he wouldn't want flowers & fuss. Instead he has a 3d arm and a football you can ping! I think this would appeal to a boy more.

Challenges;
Crafting Musketeer's - Challenge 4 - Sketch
Heck of A Challenge - Summer holidays
Drunken Stampers - Twine
One Stop Crafts - Add stripes
Artistic Inspirations - CAS
Make My Monday - Childs Play
Crafty Sentiments - Colourful
Creative Craft Challenges - Not a square

So that's my take, now over to you, but first, I highly recommend you visit the main DT page as you won't be disappointed by what you see.

Have a good week you lot, Jx

Diva's Play Bingo

Morning everyone and welcome to a new challenge over at Diva's by Design.  This time we're playing bingo, so select a line from the grid below & off you go!

Sponsoring us this time is the fabulous Delicious Doodles, a company new to me, and surprisingly right on my doorstep as the owner, Teri stays in Elgin, less than an hour's drive from my home!

The image I chose for my card is a local scene - I recognised the viaduct at Cullen as soon as I saw it, so thought it was the perfect one for me!  It's called Harbour Scene and is available here.

The image has been slightly shaded with Promarkers before use and my edges have been distressed & inked.  One of the panels has been embossed with little boats, but I think you may just have to take my word for that as it's not that clear from my pic!

Finally the card is finished off with a ribbon and gems to complete the first column of the bingo grid.

Below is a real life photo of the above scene.  I didn't quite get the angle right, but you can see it's the same location - just I wasn't on the right spot on the harbour wall! Oh yeah, and the tide was out on my visit.

Challenges;
613 Avenve Create - Anything Goes
That Craft Place - Monochrome
The Ribbon Girls - Birthday Card
The Squirrel & the Fox - Nautical/Sea Life
Sweet Stampin - By The Seaside
Craft Your Passion - Sea Theme

For more inspiration hop back to the main Diva's blog to see the lovely creations by the rest of the teamies. Have a great week, Jx

11th Aug 13
So pleased to see my card in the spotlight over at Sweet Stampin this morning - thank you ladies, it is an honour.

Anything Goes

Quick post as we are still away.

Back to DT work and today sees a new challenge over at Diva's By Design.

Today we have an

Anything Goes Challenge

So I think we could have a few entries here!  The sponsor this time around is the fabulous Dilly Beans who are offering the winner the prize indicated on the Diva's blog.   Us DT girlies were also lucky enough to get some images to play with - thanks for these as they are lovely images to colour.

I chose Anna Framed available here.

Hopefully you'll be able to join us on this challenge & for more inspiration please head back to the Diva's blog.

Challenges;
Crafty Cardmakers - Birthdays
That Craft Place - It's A Girl Thing
LCI - Birthdays

Simply Charming

I can't seem to get my timings right at the moment with all my DT cards - I either make them way in advance or it's a rush to get them finished! No rush job however this week for Diva's as we switch back to Team B and a new challenge of

Charming

This week we are sponsored by the fabulous Stamp & Create.  To find out the prize on offer, hop back to the Diva's By Design page.

For my card, I went with a gorgeous Hannah Lynn image from Crafts and Me.  I really am trying to work on my inner diva here and have tried to banish plain Jane in favour of a more decorated card.  So not only do you have lots of layers and a flower, you also have a charm, twine and die-cuts!  Papers are by MME, my favourite Paris & Co pad. And, I even managed to paper piece her clothes!

So that's my take on this Charming challenge.  For more inspiration, head over to the main Diva's By Design page where you can feast your eyes on some gorgeous cards, then hopefully join us in this challenge.

Challenges;
One Crazy Stamper - Kraft
Allsorts - Favourite things - Hannah Lynn Stamps, MME paper and paper piecing
Di's Digi Challenge - Paper Piecing - her outfit
A Gem Of A Challenge - Lots of Layers
Papertake - Old, New Borrowed & blue - Well I got 2! Old papers and a new stamp for me.  The blue could even be the bird... and the borrowed, my time as I really should be holiday packing not card making!!!
Crafting For All Seasons - Bingo - Digi, Flower & pearls